Railway-switch mechanism.



PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

T.JAGKSON. RAILWAY SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1904.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

MVIIIIIIILII WITNEEIEEE M. W HM.

PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

T. JACKSON. RAILWAY SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVERTER, @ZZ

WITNE 5 EE 5: (V92 5 TAYLOR JACKSON, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

RAILWAY-SWITCH MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed September 26,1904. serial No. 225.989.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, TAYLOR JAcKsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railway Switch Mechanisms,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in railway-switches.

It relates particularly to street-railway switches.

The object of my invention is to provide a mechanism by which theoperator of a car may throw a switch without stopping the car ordescending therefrom for the purpose.

My invention is particularly applicable to use in connection withswitches of the type in which a pivoted switch-tongue is employed.

My invention consists in a shifting mechanism for swinging theswitch-tongue to and fro, a controlling or actuating device beingprovided on the car and adapted when properly positioned thereon toactuate the shifting mechanism so as to swing the switchtongue to theright or left, as may be desired.

My invention provides, further, means by which the switch-controllingmechanism may normally be held out of engagement with the shiftingmechanism.

My invention provides, further, a plurality of switch-controllingdevices disposed one adjacent each end of the car, whereby the switchmay be operated with the car running in either direction upon the track.

My invention also provides for four switchcontrolling devices disposedtwo adjacent each end of the car, two being located over each rail, oneat each end of the car, whereby the pivoted switch-tongue, whetherlocated on one side of the track or the other, may be operated when thecar is moving in either direction.

Other novel features are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is avertical sectional view taken transversely of the track, showing one ofthe controlling devices carried by the car in the depressed position andin engagement with one of the shifting shoes. Fig. 2 is a top view ofthe shifting mechanism, the pivoted switch-tongue, and a part of thefrog.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the floor of a car equipped with the mechanismfor controlling the shifting of the tongue. Fig. 4 is a side elevationview of What is shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional viewtaken on the dottedline a l) of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective view ofone of the cam-shoes. Fig. 7 is. a cross-section taken on the dottedline a d of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a top view of one of the cam-shoes. Fig. 9is a top view of one of the shifting shoes. In dotted lines the shiftingshoe is shown engaged with the cam-shoe. Fig. 10 is a perspective viewof a modified form of cam-shoe which is laterally adjustable on thecarrying-bar.

Similar characters of reference denote similar parts.

1 denotes a portion of an ordinary frog provided with a switch-tongue 2,pivoted to the body of the frog by means of a vertical pin 3, mounted insuitable holes provided in the body and tongue. Y

1 is a longitudinal vertical flange provided on the under side of thefrog 1. Secured at each side of the frog 1 to the flange 4 is arectangular box 5, provided in its upper end with a rectangular opening6, having a removable cover 7. A transverse horizontal rod 8 is slidablymounted in horizontal holes provided in the flange 4 and the adjacentsides of the boxes 5. A vertical pin 9 is rigidly secured at its lowerend to the bar 8, the upper end being pivotally mounted in averticalslot 10, provided adjacent the free end l of the switch-tongue 2. Eachend of the bar 8 is screw-threaded. The right end of the bar as viewedin Figs. 1 and 2 extends through a vertical projection 11, provided onthe lower side of a shifting shoe 12, disposed at one side of the frog 1and resting upon the upper side of the adjacent box 5. The projection 11extends through a slot 13. disposed at right angles to the track in thetop of the box. The shoe 12 is rigidly secured to the bar 8 by means "oftwo nuts 14 and 15, mounted on the bar 8 at each side 01' the projection11. A shifting shoe 16 is similarly mounted upon the top of the left box5 at the left side of the frog 1. The shoe 16 is provided withadownwardly-extending projection 17, slidable lengthwise in a slot 18,which is provided in the top of the box 5, parallel with the bar 8.'The'bar 8 extends through a transverse hole provided in the projection17 and has mounted on its. left ICC end the nuts 19 and 20, clampingeach side of the projection 17.

I will now describe the construction of the switch-controlling devicecarried by the car.

21 denotes the floor of the car, to the un der side of which is securedthe upper end of a vertical tubular housing 22, in which is rotativelymounted a vertically-movable bar 23, to the lower end of which issecured a cam-shoe 24, provided on one edge with a convex camface 25,adapted to engage with one or the other of the shifting shoes 12 and 16for the purpose of shifting said shoes laterally and swinging theswitch-tongue 2 to the right or left. For the purpose of r0tating thebar 23 it has secured to its upperend above the floor 21 of'the cara-cra'nk-arm 26. To prevent rotation of the bar 23 while it is beingused to throw the switch, it has secured to it a collar 27, provided ateach side with horizontal projections 28, which are mounted andvertically slidable in two vertical slots 29, respectively disposed indiametrically opposite sides-of the housing 22 and extending downwardfrom the upper end thereof. A compression-spring 30, encircling the bar23, has its lower end resting upon a shoulder 31 in the housing, theupper end bearing upon the under side of the col lar 2-7. Thecompression-spring 30 by its tension normally forces the bar 23upwardly, thus raising the cam-shoe 24 clear of the trackand fromengagement with the shifting shoes. The upper end of the housing 22 isenlarged at a point above the slots 29, so as to permit rotation of thebar 23, whensaid bar has been elevated to a position in which theprojections 28 of the collar 27 are freed from the slots 29.

32 denotes braces the lower ends of which are secured to the lower endof the housing 22, the upper ends of said braces being secured to theunder side of the car-floor 21.

In operating my invention before the wheels have reached theswitch-tongue 2 the operator on the car, if desiring to throw theswitch-tongue 2 to the right as viewed in Fig. 2 and the cam-shoe 24 isin the position shown in Fig. 1, seizes the crank-arm 26 and slides thebar 23 upwardly until the projections 28 pass out of the slots 29, atwhich time the bar 23 is rotated a distance of one hundred and eightydegrees, when the bar 23 is dropped with the cam-face 25 of the cam-shoe24 disposed at the right hand in position to engage the shoe 12. Theoperator retains his foot upon the crank 26, compressing the spring 30and keeping the shoe 24 in position to strike and force to the right theshifting shoe 12. The car is then permitted to move ahead, thus swingingthe switch-tongue 2 to the right through the intermediacy of the shoe12, bar 8, and pin 9, after which the operator can proceed with the caron the proper track toward his destination. After the switch has beenthrown pressure on the crank-arm 26 is removed, permitting the spring 30to sufliciently elevate the bar 23 and shoe 24 to avoid obstructionswhich otherwise might strike them in the depressed position.

It will be understood that the bar 23 to be rotated and depressed willalways be the one at the forward end of the car and which is locatedover the rail provided with the switchtongue which is to be thrown.

As the tongue may be located in eitherrail and as eitherend of the carmay be the forward end, four controlling devices are usually requiredupon eachcar.

The openings 6, normally coveredby the lids or covers 7,are provided foraccess to the interior of the boxes '5, so that dirt may be removed orto permit the repairing or replacing of the parts inclosed by the boxes.

In Fig. 10 I have illlustrated a laterallyadjustable cam-shoe.Adjustment of this kind maybe required,so that the shoe carried by thecar may be properly positioned to engage the shi'fting shoes 12 and 16.In this form the supporting-bar '23 is secured rigidly at its lower endto a block 33, fitted to move lengthwise in'a transverse'dovetail groove34, provided in the upper side of the cam-shoe 24. At the side-of thecam-s'hoe-opposite the cam-face is provided at one end of the groove 34a vertical projection 37, provided with a transverse hole in which isslidably mounted a horizontal "bar 35, one end of which is secured tothe block 33 and the other end being screw-threaded. On said threadedportion at each side of the projection 37 'is mounted a nut 36, adaptedto bear against the projection 37. By properly positioning the nuts 36on the bar 35 the cam-shoe 24 may be moved to any'desired position onthe block 33, after which the nuts 36 are tightened against the sides ofthe projection 37, thus securely holding the shoe in place on the block33.

Other modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spiritof my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the switchtongue, of a shifting means forswinging the bar laterally from side to side, a bar rota tively mountedon the car and vertically movable thereon, a releasable lockingdevicefor preventing rotation of the bar, a spring normally forcing said barupwardly, and a device laterally adjustable on the bar and adapted toengage and actuate said shifting mechanism when the bar is depressed.

2. The combination with aswitch-tongue, of means for shifting laterallysaid tongue, a bar rotatively and vertically adjustable on the car, anda shoe carried by and laterally adjustable on said bar andjadapted toengage and actuate the shifting means when the bar is properlypositioned.

3. The combination with a pivoted switchtongue, of twotransversely-movable shoes, means by which when said shoes are moved,the tongue will be laterally swung, a bar rotatively moimted on the car,a device carried I by and laterally adjustable on said bar and adaptedwhen the bar is rotated to one position to engage one shoe, and when thebar is l disposed in another position to engage the other shoe and movethe same, for the purpose of shifting said tongue in oppositedirections.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

TAYLOR JACKSON.

Witnesses:

WARREN D. HoUsE, HENRY F. RosE.

